Student Feature Friday - Nipmuc's Student Leaders Meet Senator Fattman

Earlier today Nipmuc welcomed Senator Ryan Fattman to our school to meet with student leaders and learn about our school. Mrs. Moran and I enjoyed spending time with the senator, discussing key issues related to education and sharing our Nipmuc pride. The highlight of the day was a lunch conversation between the senator and many of our student leaders. The discussion provided insight on the senator's own journey to leadership and the importance of community involvement. We're very thankful for the senator's candid conversation, his generosity with his time, and the opportunity to introduce him to Nipmuc.

The following question was asked of the student leaders who met with Senator Fattman today:

Q. What is your biggest takeaway from today's meeting with Senator Fattman?

Christopher Bechara - Class of 2016 Class President - Senator Fattman was one of the coolest people I've ever listened to. Such an amazing and well-rounded person. I believe the biggest takeaway from today's meeting was definitely the point that college students spend too much money going to a college they feel that they need to attend. Senator Fattman made it very clear that there is nothing wrong with a community college experience. Amazing person - glad I met him.

Sarah Bloznalis - Class of 2017 Class President - Talking to Senator Fattman today was a great experience. It was interesting to see that he was just a regular young guy, doing his best to make a difference in his community. It shed a light on the fact that no matter your situation and how you grow up, you can always make something of yourself if you work hard.

Jillian Carey - Central District of MA Student Councils (CDMASC) Vice President - I found it extremely inspiring to hear from someone who got a start at a very young age comparatively to the rest of those in politics. I was able to not only relate to him but also look at my own course and see how possible it is to make a difference.

Mario Cicconi - Senator Fattman's Youth Council - My biggest takeaway form today's meeting is no matter how old you are or where you're from a lot of great things can be achieved through hard work and keeping a positive attitude.

Isabelle DesRoches - Nipmuc Student Council President - My biggest takeaway from the meeting with Senator Fattman is the importance of being an informed voter and citizen.  He stressed the importance of our vote as millennials and how we can influence government at the local level from a young age.  Additionally, Senator Fattman opened my eyes to the views of both political parties.  I will be sure to research the views and values of all candidates before voting once I am of age.

Preston Dougherty - Class of 2019 Class President - My biggest takeaway from this is that everyone should have a good knowledge about politics. I think the things he said, the experiences he had with politics - everyone should experience someday. Also, I loved when he brought up the student bills. I think everyone should hear what he's saying and what he would have done about going to college.

Cameron Dunning - Class of 2018 Treasurer - Today's meeting with Senator Fattman was very beneficial and there were so many takeaways you could embrace. One major takeaway from today's meeting I felt was learning how to be a leader and with that you must always stay positive through everything to be successful. Being positive will always result in success, if it is complete social success, or a self achieved success. I'm very grateful to have the chance to meet the Senator and absorb his wisdom.

Sean Kelleher - Nipmuc Student Council - My biggest takeaway from today's meeting with the Senator is my involvement of student leadership and that everything my fellow student leaders and I do in life has an impact on the future. When I listened to the Senator talk about his journey from being a small town kid to being a young selectman to finally be the youngest memeber in Senate shows how the younger generations can make a strong impact is. He said that "this generation needs to step up to the plate", and that really made me think that my work now will be able shape the future for the better.


Jillian Penfield - Nipmuc Student Council - My biggest takeaway from today's meeting was to always stay positive. Senator Fattman went door to door campaigning and when asked about the opposing candidate he never spoke negatively about him. I just learned that you don't need to put people down in order to bring yourself up. Senator Fattman won the love of voters through positivity, and this outlook needs to be spread throughout our country.

Rebecca Pfeiffer - Senator Fattman's Youth Council - My biggest takeaway from the meeting was how many sacrifices and decisions go into taking a state position. Senator Fattman talked to us about how he made choices for college, and being able to plan ahead for what you would like to accomplish. I have a better understanding of what role state officials play in our towns and society.

Ashley Round - Class of 2018 President - With all of the important lessons I've learned today meeting Senator Fattman, my biggest takeaway was learning staying positive makes a difference. He put staying positive into perspective for me. Through all the hard times and tough decisions he had to make throughout his life and career, staying positive helped him. He talked about how his attitude made him stand out from everyone else. It helped his self confidence and kept him going. I am very thankful that I had the chance to meet and talk with him and take something from this experience.

Carly Thibodeau - Nipmuc Student-Athlete - First, it was such an honor to have taken some of Senator Fattman's time, knowing from his discussion how busy his schedule is and how many other seemingly more important things he has to attend than to meeting with kids in high school. My biggest takeaway was that age doesn't determine what you can do when - as the youngest Senator, Fattman is proof of that. What matters is how you approach things in obstacles in life, and you should always come at them with positivity and belief in what YOU can do, rather than what others can do better.

Kelsey Woods - National Honor Society President - Honestly, it was what a great speaker he was. This could just be how Mr. Clements has drilled the AP English curriculum into my head, but the way he would blend statistics and passion for his family and career was amazing. I also loved how he didn't box himself into a political party, but leaned depending on the issue.

Announcements - September 14 - 18, 2015

Morning Announcements
Interested in a career in nursing or the medical field?  Want to give back to the community through youth service projects?  Join Nipmuc's new American Red Cross Club!  Sign up at the Club Fair on September 25th.  For more information see senior Sarah Tong.

Attention to all students attending the luncheon with Senator Fattman today - Please report to the Gathering Room at 12:10.

Attention all freshmen StuCo members - There will be a brief meeting in room 242 during your break today.

Have you dreamt about being on the morning announcements?  Now is your chance!  Apply on twitter@NipmucNews or sign up in the office.

National Honor Society portfolio due dates:  Seniors wishing to join this year - submit portfolios on October 15th.  Juniors and Sophomores - due date is January 7th.  Meeting to follow soon.  Questions - see Mrs. Kyrka in room 217.

National Honor Society members or people interested in joining - come to Mrs. Kyrka's room 217 for a number of volunteer opportunities.  Many chances for service hours while helping others!

The annual Color Run will be held in Providence on September 27th.  Sign up with your friends to walk or run on Nipmuc's team.  Sign up at http://thecolorrun.com/providence/ for the 9:30 a.m. wave and choose the team - Nipmuc Warriors.  See StuCo President Ibby DesRoches with any questions. 

 

Volunteers needed for Open House on Thursday, 9/17. Please sign up in the office or Mrs. Kyrka's room 217.

World Challenge is running a two-week expedition to Belize in July of 2016.  Any students interesting in signing up should attend our informational meeting on Thursday, September 24th from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Nipmuc Auditorium.  Bring your parents and yet your questions answered!

Any National Honor Society member or student looking for hours, please see Mr. Ferris in the office.

Come support Nipmuc's Swim Team this Thursday, 9/17, at the Papa Gino's in Uxbridge.  Drop by anytime between 4-10 p.m. 

Those interested in the theater, the Drama Department will be having their first meeting in the auditorium this Thursday at 3:30.  Every is welcome to join.

DECA Cookout - Friday, September 25th during lunch.  (Cafeteria will not be serving lunch this day).  Purchase of ticket includes 2 hamburgers, 2 hot dogs, or one of each, and ice cream!  Buy your tickets in the cafeteria and school store.  Price of tickets is $6 in advance, $7 at door.

Students interested in part-time jobs should see Mrs. Hennessy in the Career Center.  There are several opportunities available including: bank teller, babysitter, dietary aide positions.

Attention Freshmen - Nomination forms are available in the office for student council and class office.  All forms are due today - Monday, 9/14 - by 2 p.m.  Speeches and elections will be held on Wednesday, September 16th.

Juniors and Seniors - Parking applications are now available in the main office.  This year you will be able to choose your parking space number on a first-come, first-served basis.  You must have your application, money and blue form complete to secure a parking space.

Applications for the September Driver Education class are available in the office and on the school website.  Afternoon classes will be held September 21 - October 2 every day after school 2:15 - 5 p.m.  The evening class will be held Tuesday and Thursday nights for 5 weeks, 6:30 - 9 p.m. starting September 22nd.  Return your completed application and check to the office by September 18th.

Counseling Center Announcements

Attention Sophomores and Juniors: It is time to register for the PSAT’s which will be administered on Wednesday, October 14^th, 7:30 am at Nipmuc. Please see Mrs. Grady in the School Counseling Center to register. The registration fee is $20 cash or a check made out to Nipmuc Regional High School. Registration deadline is Friday, October 9^th.

Admission representatives from the following colleges will hold Information Sessions at Nipmuc in September:

·          September 17^th:                   St. Joseph’s College – Maine                           Gathering Room  8:30am

·          September 18^th:                   Stonehill College                                                 Gathering Room  1:30pm

·          September 22^nd:                  Southern New Hampshire University              Gathering Room  9:30am

·          September 29^th                    Franklin Pierce                                                     Gathering Room 1:30pm

·          September 30^th                    University of Rochester                                      Gathering Room 11:45am

You must register to attend college visits in Naviance (select “colleges”: click on “view all upcoming college visits”: click on “Sign up”) and pick up a pass in the Counseling Center.

The Counseling Center encourages all students to use Naviance for a variety of future planning resources and news announcements.

All students are reminded to check out the Counseling Center Blog for announcements, college planning, SAT and ACT information and scholarships.

Student Feature Friday - Matthew O'Brien Elected to Boys Nation

Nipmuc Senior Matthew O'Brien
meeting President Obama at the
White House

Each year the American Legion hosts Boys State, one of the most impactful leadership opportunities a high school student can experience. Boys State offers students the chance to engage in civics by taking on leadership roles in a simulated community. Students from high schools across Massachusetts send delegates to Stonehill College for a week of “hands on democracy.” From this impressive group of young leaders, two Massachusetts students are elected to the Boys Nation Senate, providing them with the opportunity to travel to Washington DC as representatives of their state.

This past summer Nipmuc senior Matthew O’Brien earned the honor of being elected to this prestigious role. Matthew spent a memorable and empowering week during which he met President Obama, interacted with United States Senators, attended a hearing with Secretary of State Kerry, and learned the power of civic engagement with 97 other emerging student-leaders.

It’s my pleasure to begin this year of “Feature Friday” posts by sharing Matthew’s amazing experience with you.

Q: Tell me about your experience at Boys Nation? What were some of the highlights of this honor?
A: Getting elected to Boys Nation at the outset was an incredible honor! I had to give a series of speeches in front of the delegation, every day, my competition dwindling until it was myself and my fellow Senator left. Once I arrived at Boys Nation at Marymount University, I was immediately put into one of two fictional political parties (Nationalist and Federalist); I was by chance a Federalist. Each party was responsible for drafting its own political platform, which I must say was crazy because we had people from all political ideologies represented. Each state (minus Hawaii) sends two Senators to Boys Nation, so we mirrored the actual U.S. Senate. We each proposed bills and resolutions. They were sent to committee, debated on, and voted on by the delegation. I introduced a resolution that proposed a constitutional amendment that would outlaw the desecration of the United States flag, an issue that the American Legion is especially passionate about. While there, I ran for President of Boys Nation, coming in the top six out of the 40 senators that ran. We took a private tour of the Pentagon and met and sang “Anchors Aweigh” to the Secretary of the Navy. We also had a whole day on Capitol Hill devoted to meeting with our respective senators and congressmen. On that day, we truly witnessed history in action. We thought the senate was going to be called into emergency session to vote on the Iran Nuclear Deal but instead, the Secretary of State was on the Hill conducting a senate hearing in front of the foreign relations committee. I was ten feet behind John Kerry and got to speak to him afterwards! I also met with Senator Ed Markey, Elizabeth Warren, Congressmen Jim McGovern and Joe Kennedy III. One of my favorite memories from the whole week was while I was at the Korean War memorial. Walking through the nameless faces at dusk brought back memories of my grandfather, a USMC Korean War veteran, so I felt compelled to call my grandmother all the way in New York to share my feelings with her. I called her on the phone and I broke down and wept at the foot of the statue that read 'Freedom Is Not Free'. Truly a powerful moment.

Matthew (seated in front of President Obama) and the
other 97 Boys Nation Senators

Q: What was it like to meet President Obama?
A: I must say, meeting the President of the United States is one event that will forever be ingrained in my memory. On that particular day, the Boys Nation delegation arrived at the White House where we took our own private tour, seeing the famous building everybody sees on television from the inside. After the tour, we assembled in the East Room, where I was astonished to pull back the curtains and see the North Portico, and the tourists. They were looking in, but we were looking out. Anyway, all 98 Senators got arranged on risers for the presidential photo by the White House photographer and as luck had it, I was sitting in a chair right in the middle of the front row! I was informed that I would have to move my chair and make room for the President so he could squeeze through. Normally moving one’s chair does not seem like a big deal but on that particular day, I was able to move my chair for POTUS! After a few minutes of waiting silently in our positions, we heard out of nowhere in a familiar voice, a deep, "Hello everybody!" Then he appeared. The President of the United States himself, there, not six feet in front of me. After a short speech about service to one’s nation, the delegates sang happy birthday to the President (his birthday was two weeks later) he then joined the group for the photo. I moved my chair and in he walked. He looked me in the eye, shook my hand, and asked, "What's your name son?" To which I replied, "Matthew O'Brien, from Massachusetts, Mr. President." We took the group picture and then got in a receiving line to shake his hand once again. When it was my turn he expressed his apologies for forgetting my name to which I said, "My name is Matthew O'Brien from Massachusetts and if I may sir, thank you, for giving me hope." I walked away feeling invigorated with the power of the American presidency. So much power in one man, it almost overwhelms you if you forget to breathe (I almost did). The two most important things I can take away from meeting the President of the United States that day in July are: 1) It didn't matter if you were for him or against him, at the moment his policy decisions were irrelevant. You were meeting the President and the office in itself demands an immense amount of honor and respect. 2.) President Obama has incredibly soft hands.

Q: What was the most inspirational part of the Boys Nation experience?
A: While meeting the President was definitely memorable, the most inspirational part of the Boys Nation experience was by far the fellow Senators I shared the experience with. During the day, we would debate our bills we introduced in the senate chamber (sometimes things got quite heated) but at the end of the day, we always shook hands and called a truce. We as Senators debated like gentlemen. Late into the night, we would stay up, discussing our own philosophies about politics, religion, or the meaning of life in general. Things got interesting with me as a Catholic, a Southern Baptist from Mississippi, a Mormon from Utah and a Buddhist from Oregon all discussing creationism versus the Big Bang at two am! One story where I will be inspired until the day I leave this Earth, involves my roommate, a conservative, devout Christian from Indiana, who believed that gay marriage was a sin. Being a liberal from the north, where marriage equality has been the norm for a while now, I was taken back from his statement. But after talking it through with him, we still disagreed fundamentally, but at least we were able to understand where the other was coming from, and that is what I believe the ulterior function of the program is. To expose delegates to other cultures and ways of thinking other political, religious, and ideological philosophies; and by that I was truly inspired to listen more to opposing sides before I prejudge.

Q: How has this experience affected your future?
A: Going to Washington DC and participating in Boys Nation has affected my future in a few ways. After returning from Boys Nation, I came into my senior year with a renewed sense of patriotism. Before going to Boys State and eventually Boys Nation, I was planning on focusing on music in college and beyond. But after my hands-on exposure to the American political system, being up close and personal with Senators, Congressmen, lobbyists, the Secretary of State and other government officials, I see the value of public service in the 21st century world. I now plan to major in Political Science and Economics as a result of my experiences in Washington with hopes to eventually earn a law degree. My end goal is definitely a run for the Massachusetts State Legislature or U.S. House of Representatives when the time is right.

I would just like to add lastly, that through my experiences, I believe I have I learned the values of citizenship and most importantly the little things like the value of saying the Pledge of Allegiance in the morning. That the youth vote matters, and our generation, the millennial generation needs to get out to vote. That there are hundreds of thousands of veterans out there, we see them every day; they may be wearing an American Legion cap or that of the VFW, it matters not. All that matters is that they fought to protect our flag and our rights and we owe them our respect and the very least our thanks, so. I challenge the readers of this post, to go out of their way and thank a veteran for their service to our great nation today. We owe them all a great debt. I offer a special thank you to American Legion Roger L. Wood Post 355 in Mendon for sponsoring me throughout my journey this summer!

The Boys Nation Senators representing their home states. 

Announcements September 8 - 11, 2015

Morning Announcements
Students interested in part time jobs should see Mrs. Hennessy in the Career Center.  There are several opportunities available including bank teller, babysitter, dietary aide positions.

Boys soccer won 1-0 against Worcester North with the goal by Zach Dawson. Boys golf has a home match against Sutton at 3:30 on Thursday.

Reminder to all swim team members (or anyone interested in swim team!) - there is a meeting at 6 p.m. tonight - Thursday, 9/10 - at Whitinsville Community Use Center Pavilion. Contact Senior Carly Thibodeau or Mr. Schmidt for more information.

Attention Freshmen: Nomination forms are available in the office for student council and class offices. All forms are due by Monday, September 14th.

Applications for September Driver Education classes are available in the office and on the school website. Afternoon classes will beheld September 21st through October 2nd every day after school (2:15 - 5:00). The evening class will be held Tuesday and Thursday nights for 5 weeks (6:30 - 9:00 p.m.) starting September 22nd. Return your completed application and check to the office by September 18th.

Impact Team Meetings will be held on Day 7 during both breaks in Mrs. Field's room 122. All are welcome!

National Honor Society officers meeting - Wednesday, September 9th at 7 a.m. in Mrs. Kyrka's room 217. 

National Honor Society open meeting - Thursday, September 10th at 7 a.m. in the auditorium.

Attention Juniors and Seniors - Parking applications are now available in the main office. This year you will be able to choose your parking space number on a first-come, first-served basis. You must have your application, payment ($50 seniors - full year, $25 juniors - half year) and blue form complete to secure a parking space.


Counseling Center Announcements
Attention Sophomores and Juniors: It is time to register for the PSAT’s which will be administered on Wednesday, October 14th, 7:30 am at Nipmuc. Please see Mrs. Grady in the School Counseling Center to register. The registration fee is $20 cash or a check made out to Nipmuc Regional High School. Registration deadline is Friday, October 9th.

Admission representatives from the following colleges will hold Information Sessions at Nipmuc in September:
·  September 14th: Anna Maria College Gathering Room 11:00am
· September 17th: St. Joseph’s College – Maine Gathering Room 8:30am
· September 18th: Stonehill College Gathering Room 1:30pm
· September 22nd: Southern New Hampshire University Gathering Room 9:30am

You must register to attend in Naviance (select “colleges”: click on “view all upcoming college visits”: click on “Sign up”) and pick up a pass in the Counseling Center.

The Counseling Center encourages all students to use Naviance for a variety of future planning resources and news announcements.

All students are reminded to check out the Counseling Center Blog for announcements, college planning, SAT and ACT information and scholarships.

Also: Students interested in a part time job opportunity at the Milford National Bank and Trust Company, please see the job posting on the bulletin board outside the Counseling Center or see Mrs. Grady for more information.

Announcements September 2 - 3, 2015

Morning Announcements
Welcome Back!

National Honor Society officers meeting - Wednesday, September 9th at 7 a.m. in Mrs. Kyrka's room 217. 

NHS opening meeting - 7 a.m. in the auditorium on Thursday, September 10th.

Impact Team Meetings will be held on Day 7 during both breaks this year in room 122.  All are welcome!

Juniors and Seniors - Parking applications are now available in the main office.  This year you will be able to choose your parking space number on a first-come first-served basis.  You must have your application, money and blue form completed to secure a parking space.

Applications for the September Driver Education classes are available in the office and on the school website.  Afternoon classes will be held September 21 - October 2, every day after school 2:15 - 5:00 p.m.  The evening class will be held Tuesday and Thursday nights for 5 weeks, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. starting September 22nd.  Return your completed application and check to the office by September 18th.